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Industry Reps Launch Clean Air Group
By BRIAN MELLEY Associated Press Writer 11/13/2002 Associated Press Newswires Copyright 2002. The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
FRESNO, Calif. (AP) - Representatives of industries targeted for polluting the San Joaquin Valley's darkening skies are launching a group to address the problem and speed the cleanup.
Clean Air Now, a private nonprofit funded by ChevronTexaco, will announce plans Thursday to pay for studies and promote voluntary actions to clean up chronic pollution, said Octavia Diener, a board member of the group.
Members of the farming, oil, and construction industries dominate the board of directors. Those industries are likely to face greater regulation as the valley attempts to clear its skies of some of the nation's worst pollution.
An environmentalist criticized the effort as "greenwashing" the problem by trying make industry appear environmentally friendly when it is responsible for much of the pollution.
"What I see is a replay of what happened a decade ago," said Kevin Hall of the Sierra Club. "Industry hammered the air board and drove loopholes into the process. I think what they'd like to accomplish is to set the whole process back another 10 years."
Hall, who is part of a group called the California Clean Air Campaign, has led the effort to force regulators to begin taking action after neglecting air pollution in the valley for a decade.
Fresno leads the state in childhood asthma and the valley was ranked this year as the second smoggiest place nationally by the American Lung Association. Air pollution is blamed for asthma, other respiratory ailments and heart problems. The problem is so severe in the valley that the local air district is prepared to ask the federal Environment Protection Agency to classify it as an "extreme" polluter, joining only Los Angeles, and buying more time to fix the problem. Such a move would also increase regulatory fees for new and expanding businesses.
In that climate, Clean Air Now emerged as another voice in an increasing chorus trying to address the problem.
Diener, who owns a large farm and runs a business that rebuilds engines, said the group has only met once and does not have specific proposals on how to clean up the pollution.
But she said it will likely involve sacrifices by everyone: fewer fires, less driving, maybe even fewer trucks rumbling up Highway 99 and Interstate 5.
Diener rejected criticism that the group was motivated to avoid stricter regulations.
"We have to stop pointing the finger and get involved in the solution," she said. "I hate to see naysayers before it even starts going."
Josette Merced Bello, a spokeswoman for the air district, said her agency welcomes comment from anyone who is interested in addressing the problem.
For years, air district meetings have been dominated by agriculture, petroleum and construction interests. Only recently have citizens begun to demand cleaner air.
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On the Net:
Clean Air Now: www.valley-can.org
San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District:
http://www.valleyair.org/
California Clean Air Campaign:
http://www.CalCleanAir.org/
Chevron Texaco:
http://www.chevrontexaco.com/
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